UKRAINIAN WORLD CONGRESS – FORTY YEARS

      On November 12-19, 1967 representatives of Ukrainian communities from North and South America Western Europe and Australia came together in New York City to form a central umbrella coordinating structure, which they named the World Congress of Free Ukrainians. To emphasize what brought these people together, the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians was accompanied by a manifestation of unity and solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine - a Freedom Rally at Madison Square Garden. Over the next quarter century the WCFU was a beacon of hope for freedom. Since then it has sought to develop and democratize that freedom in a now independent Ukraine and in every other part of the world where Ukrainians reside.

      To this day the WCFU, now the Ukrainian World Congress has remained a united voice for the Ukrainian community outside Ukraine. The strength and viability of this community has been the hallmark of the WCFU/UWC.  The reason for our success has been a love for our people and our native land as well as the foresight of our fathers, which provided the mechanism to enable us to come together on important issues.

        Today some twenty million Ukrainians reside outside of Ukraine. The demise of the Iron Curtain, the independence and democracy of our native country has added new meaning to that forty-year-old effort. The Ukrainian Diaspora in 2007 is not only a vibrant but also a burgeoning community. Our membership and cooperation network covers Ukrainian communities in over forty countries. Technology enables daily communication with each.

    Over the years the WCFU/UWC has formed numerous standing councils and commissions to carry out its multi-faceted and varied purposes: World Social Service Council, Commission on Human and Civil Rights, World Educational Coordinating Council, World Scholarly Council, World Cooperative Council, World Sports Council, Council on Cultural Affairs, Conference of Ukrainian Youth Organizations, United Nations’ Council, World Council on Human Trafficking, Council on Aid to Ukrainian Citizens Abroad and the Mass Media Council. The recognition of these structures should provide an overview of the UWC’s activity over the last four decades. 

        As we mark our 40^th anniversary, we bow our heads in deep respect for the visionaries who on that November day in 1967 in New York City resolved to give Ukrainian unity a chance The names of our founding fathers are too numerous to mention and because we may fail to mention some we will refrain from naming any. Nevertheless, all of us who recall or may have read or simply heard about that seminal event in 1967, should take a moment to reflect and remember those who were involved in that noble effort. To those who came before us: Thank you for your strength, your vision and for a job well done.

 

Toronto-New York                                                                                                                                      February 8, 2007

For The Ukrainian World Congress

Askold Lozynskyj                                                                                                                                      Victor Pedenko
President                                                                                                                                                  General Secretary

HOME  |  ABOUT UWC  |  UWC MEMBERS  |  COUNCILS & COMMISIONS  |  MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS BULLETINS  |  PRESS RELEASES  |  APPEALS AND STATEMENTS  |  WHAT'S NEW?  |  IX UWC CONGRESS GREAT FAMINE IN UKRAINE  |  CONTACT US (YOUR FEEDBACK)  |  UWC BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNUAL SESSIONS SUPPORT UWC  |  NEWS FROM UKRAINIAN COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE  |  FORUM  |  MULTIMEDIA

© 2004 Ukrainian World Congress. All Rights Reserved E-mail: congress@look.ca